Latest news with #BlackMusic
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gunna, Asake to Headline Afro+ Fest--D.C.'s First Festival for Global Black Music, Aug 31
LINK TO ASSETS WASHINGTON, July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Afro+ Fest , the East Coast's first large‑scale festival celebrating the full spectrum of global Black music and culture, will debut Sunday, August 31, 2025, at RFK Festival Grounds in Washington, D.C. The inaugural lineup features superstar headliners Gunna and Asake, leading a cross‑continental roster of A‑list talent for an expected crowd of 20,000 fans. Afro+ Fest Logo Powered by the ethos "Africa, plus more," Afro+ Fest offers a one‑day, all‑ages experience that honors both the future and the legacy of Black music—hip‑hop, Afrobeats, soca, dancehall, R&B and amapiano—alongside immersive art installations, global cuisine, fashion activations and a marketplace of Black‑owned brands and local creators. 2025 Lineup Highlights Gunna Asake (closing the festival) Gabzy DJ Tunez Foggie Raw Machel Montano Ricky Platinum Shatta Wale Shenseea TXC Uncle Waffles Wande Coal Special Guest: Shy Glizzy (D.C.'s own hometown hero) A Founder's Vision "This is the block party we've dreamed about for a decade," said founder and executive producer Michael Awosanya. "With the support of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Events DC, Afro+ Fest is bringing the full diaspora to RFK—music, food, culture—driven by the people and sounds that shape us." What began as a college dream has grown into a cultural movement—created by and for the communities that have defined Black music worldwide. On August 31, Afro+ Fest is set to become Washington, D.C.'s boldest new tradition. "The festival's impact will be felt not only through the music, but in the real opportunities it creates for local businesses and visionaries," Awosanya added. Festival Details Date/Time: Sunday , August 31 , 2025 | 12 PM – 11 PM Location: RFK Festival Grounds, 2500 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC Tickets: On sale now at Instagram/TikTok/Facebook/X: @TheAfroPlus PRESS & MEDIA CREDENTIALS For all media inquiries, including requests for press credentials, hi-res images, artist bios, site maps, and sponsor materials, accredited journalists and creators are invited to contact Asma Amani of Asma Amani PR at asma@ or +1 (703) 286-9084. About Afro+ Fest Afro+ Fest is the East Coast's first large-scale festival dedicated to the full spectrum of global Black music and culture. Founded by DMV-area creatives and community leaders, Afro+ Fest aims to amplify Black sounds, unite the diaspora, and foster economic and creative opportunity through music, art, and entrepreneurship. It is a gathering where every member of the diaspora—and every ally who loves Black creativity—can come together in joyful celebration. SOURCE Afro+ Fest
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Inaugural jazz festival strikes a chord in Windsor's Via Italia
The inaugural Electric Avenue International Jazz Festival seen in Windsor, Ont. on July 5, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) A new outlet for Windsor's jazz musicians took off on Saturday afternoon with the press of a valve. Rhythms from the Electric Avenue International Jazz Festival echoed down Erie Street from the WindsorEats Food Hall. 'The way sometimes I think about it is, it's most often sort of contemporary, improvised, conversational,' explained Russ Macklem, a Windsor-Detroit-based musician who helped organize the show. 'It's a mostly instrumental version of contemporary Black music.' The festival began Friday evening and will continue into Saturday night, with musicians from Windsor, Vancouver, Toronto, and Detroit, including Macklem himself. Windsor's proximity to Detroit has made it a home for the 'evolving art form' of jazz, Macklem said. 'Because of the influence of Detroit, and not just jazz, but really all kinds of Black music, Windsor has a pretty diverse musical community, kind of thanks to that,' he said. Macklem said the goal is to make the festival an annual part of Windsor's jazz landscape each summer. For more information on the schedule for the show click here.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Best Performances From the 2025 BET Awards, Ranked
On Monday night (June 9), the BET Awards 2025 made its way back to the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the BET Awards brought together an all-star cast of names. Extending from the worlds of Black music and entertainment, a bevy of superstar talent were all under one roof to commemorate the enduring legacy of BET and it's venerable awards show. More from Billboard Jimin & Jung Kook Complete Military Service as BTS Reunion Nears: Exclusive Photos Seth MacFarlane on Channeling Frank Sinatra for 'Lush Life' & Who Will Be His 'First Call' If He Uncovers a Lost Sinatra Duet RAYE Admits She Was 'Scared' to Work With Mark Ronson Over Amy Winehouse Comparisons Names such as Kendrick Lamar, Tyler Perry and Lil Wayne strutted their way to the festive event, making this year's ceremony arguably one of the best showings in recent years. To bring everything together, BET unified some of the biggest heroes across hip-hop, R&B, and gospel, when they enlisted Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey and Kirk Franklin for the Ultimate Icon Awards. Not only did the musical heavyweights receive their honors and flowers, but they proved why they remain one-of-a-kind showstoppers with their sizzling performances. Though Foxx didn't showcase his vocal prowess, his speech satiated the crowd's hunger, as he had everyone in a vise grip emotionally when he recalled the dark moments of his stroke recovery. 'You can't go through something like that and not testify,' Foxx said during his rousing speech. 'A career that I could only thank God for.' The icons weren't the only ones to leave it all out there; younger superstars like GloRilla and Playboi Carti left indelible marks during 'Culture's Biggest Night,' with their stage presence and innate creativity. Below, Billboard ranked the night's best performances, including highlights from Teyana Taylor, Snoop Dogg, Leon Thomas, Mariah Carey and more. Like Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Carti paused his touring schedule to attend this year's festivities. Despite taking a break from his nationwide trek with The Weeknd, Carti still had the performance bug, as he entertained the crowd with fun cuts from his chart-topping album MUSIC including 'Like Weezy' and 'Rather Lie.' Carti's youthful exuberance was tailor-made for the kids who tuned in to see King Vamp in rare form. The trio of R&B singers Daye, James and Caton honored one of music's most revered architects with a rendition of 'The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite).' Though a better song selection could have been chosen during the In Memoriam segment of the awards show, the R&B triad was soothing and complementary of each other's talents. Andra Day channeled the spirit of the late Roberta Flack to sing her 1973 classic 'Killing Me Softly With His Song.' The heavenly tribute was a fitting honor not only for Flack, but also for all the lost ones in the hip-hop and R&B space. Following Tyler Perry's powerful speech uplifting the Black community, Ledisi carried the torch with her soul-stirring song 'BLKWMN.' With images of legendary Black women adorning the screen, Ledisi's commanding vocals, equally moving and reassuring, appropriately shifted the room in favor of the women in attendance. In typical Weezy fashion, the Young Money commander pulled up with a Stanley bottle in hand during his performance of 'Welcome to Tha Carter.' Though Wayne is currently in Carter VI mode, that didn't stop him from venturing back to his classics. The mood shifted instantly, as his choir went from angelic to full-fledged demon time when Weezy clocked in the crowd favorite 'A Milli.' Mariah Carey's 2025 has been a busy one. Following the release of her new single 'Type Dangerous,' Carey blessed the stage with her debut performance of the song. Flanked by an army of sleek white-clad dancers, Carey had a brilliant cast to support her efforts. Anderson .Paak dazzled on the drums, while a dapper Rakim dished out a timely assist, rounding out Carey's fun-filled showing. After stepping away from music to focus on directing and acting, Teyana Taylor made a triumphant return to the stage at the BET Awards. Teasing her forthcoming album Escape Room, a re-energized Taylor glided through an electrifying R&B soundscape, flanked by a fleet of robotic dancers. Her dynamic performance signaled that her so-called retirement was anything but permanent. Leon Thomas' spellbinding performance of 'Mutt' had the crowd howling incessantly at his lyrics. With his guitar in tow, Thomas' theatrical finesse wowed the room, as the audience clung to every word from his infectious Hot 100 hit, further cementing his status as R&B's newest vanguard. After Kevin Hart saluted this current wave of female rap superstars, he set the table for Big Glo to feast and dominate the BET Awards stage. With a Michael Jackson-inspired 'fit, Glo proceeded to her GLORIOUS heater 'Let Her Cook' before tagging in Keyshia Cole for a succinct version of her new song 'Typa,' which samples the singer's 2005 classic 'Love.' Before receiving the Ultimate Icon Award, Jamie Foxx was treated to a riveting tribute led by Babyface, Ludacris, Tank and Jennifer Hudson — each honoring different chapters of his musical journey, from 'Unpredictable' to Ray Charles' 'I Got a Woman.' A visibly emotional Foxx then watched as Doug E. Fresh, Teddy Riley and T-Pain transformed 'Blame It' into a symphonic masterpiece. Riley, vocoder in hand, delivered Foxx's verse with precision before T-Pain joined in, turning the moment into a vibrant, full-circle celebration for the hall-of-fame triple threat. To honor the legacy of BET's iconic flagship show 106 & Park, a reunion of beloved former hosts — Terrence J, Free, Big Tigger, Julissa Bermudez and Keshia Chanté — lit up the stage in nostalgic fashion. Each host introduced a legendary 2000s superstar who once ruled the countdown era. Ashanti charmed the crowd with a sultry medley of classics, including 'Foolish' and 'Baby.' T.I. kept the momentum rolling with a high-powered cruise through ATL's golden era, before the set hit a fever pitch with a showstopping performance by Mr. 106 & Park himself, Bow Wow. Once The Doggfather completed his acceptance speech, he went into performance mode. He rallied his West Coast compatriots in Warren G and Kurupt and turned the Peacock Theater into a true function. Snoop hopscotched through various eras of his career, as he delivered 'Drop It Like It's Hot' and 'Nuthin' But a G Thang.' Snoop also dialed in Uncle Charlie Wilson to smoothen the ride with a drive down The Gap Band's 'Outstanding.' The best was truly saved for last, as Kirk Franklin closed out the night with a spirit-filled curtain call. As the final Ultimate Icon honoree, Franklin took the audience straight to church, unleashing a medley of gospel anthems — from the timeless 'Stomp' and 'Silver & Gold' to a modern-day revival of 'Revolution.' With DC Young Fly lending an energetic assist, Franklin rained down the Holy Spirit and delivered a finale that was both joyful and transcendent. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Black Music Appreciation Month: Marcus ‘DJ Maniac' McGee talks 20 year journey
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — During June, we are paying tribute to Black Music. One local artist shares his 20-year journey. Meet Marcus 'DJ Maniac' McGee. The Wichita Falls native has been a turntablist for more than 20 years. 'I like to scratch,' McGee said. 'That really got me into it as well, like the hip hop side of it.' Deejaying began when McGee heard the same songs repeatedly at nightclubs in Wichita Falls. That's when he set out to buy his own turntable set, learning the fundamentals of scratching, beat juggling, and more. 'It all comes together as a really cool dish, like if I [were] a chef or something,' McGee said. Mixing new beats by combining pop and rock hits to serve through his creative style. 'With deejaying and I thought hip hop was just with hip hop songs until I seen these other DJ mix with Led Zeppelin and Pantera. Even some old-school Jazz stuff too that goes into samples of 90s Wu-Tang and A Tribe Called Quest,' McGee said. 'If you find that one song that was hot for a minute and then you put it up for a little bit and then you just randomly bring it back. It will bring back memories to people like, 'oh my god, I remember this song'.' Aside from beat sampling, McGee also takes influences from other deejays such as Wichita Falls' own DJ Sabor and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Taking a little piece of them and mixing it with his own twang. The veteran disc jockey has spent hours perfecting his craft to keep you grooving to the tunes. 'It's really, really fun to figure out what people want and what people need to hear. That's a big difference,' McGee said. 'People will want certain songs and won't even dance to it. When you play a song that they don't even know that they want it and they hit, and then you have a pretty good crowd.' Bringing people together on the dance floor. 'Really awesome just to see what I love to do and showing people that I love to do it and be able to share it,' McGee said. Turning tracks and heads. 'You really have to respect the culture to do it. Right? Anybody can deejay, but not everybody can actually rock the crowd or have a song that's playing that makes that one person get up,' McGee said. 'You have to know how to control your environment. Always learning, always trying to improve my craft. As long as I'm here, I'm going to respect that craft. Hopefully, if you ever see me out and about, I'll be rocking it.' McGee jokes he's retired twice from deejaying to his gaming lounge, but his phone always rings for more gigs. 'It's kind of the same thing from deejaying to Maniacs Mansion. I just went out, tried it, did it and I'm still here doing both. So I must be doing it right,' McGee said. DJ Maniac's still spinning the turntable and offering up the best tunes through his creations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Khaleej Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Rapper Kendrick Lamar lands the biggest wins at the 2025 BET Awards
Kendrick Lamar was the top winner at the BET Awards, an awards ceremony honouring Black actors, singers and sports stars. The 30 For 30 rapper won the best male hip hop artist award, best album of the year as well as the video of the year award for Not Like Us. Lamar and filmmaker Dave Free also took home the video director of the year award at the event, which was held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles and broadcast on the BET cable channel. "BET has always made sure they're representing the culture right and always put me in the midst of the cycle of what we represent," Lamar said on stage when accepting his award. Host comedian Kevin Hart opened the ceremony by recognizing the BET Awards' 25th anniversary and all of the "history that has been made" on the stage. The ceremony traversed the evolution of Black music, starting with a performance by RB artist Ashanti that featured a compilation of songs, including her 2002 song Foolish. Additional performances included other 2000s songs Ballin' by Mustard, 1 Thing by Amerie and Like You by Bow Wow. Hart led with jokes while also highlighting the BET Ultimate Icon Award winners of the night, including Kirk Franklin, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg. The special award was given to those that have paid homage to music, entertainment, advocacy and community impact. Presented by Stevie Wonder, Foxx accepted his award and reflected on his recovery journey after having a stroke in 2023. "I gotta be honest, when I saw the in memoriam, I was like, 'Man, that could have been me'," he said. Another honour included the best female hip hop artist award for rising rapper Doechii.
